Inspired by the traditional American row house, this collection of gleaming white gable roof homes is part of the new wave of sustainable design in Houston. Designed and built by Matthew and Tina Ford through their company <a href="http://www.shadehousedev.com/" target="_blank">Shade House Development</a>, the <a href="http://www.shadehousedev.com/index.php/row-houses.html" target="_blank">Row on 25th</a> is currently a series of five houses, but it will soon be expanded to nine. A simple and clean layout, coupled with economies of scale in building lowered the costs of building down to around $170 per square foot. They also included a number of energy-efficient strategies, like daylighting, to lower AC costs in the hot and humid climate of southeast Texas.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Located in the trending Houston Heights downtown neighborhood, Row on 25th is a collection of 5 rentable homes.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Soon there will be 4 more homes for a total of 9, all inspired by the symmetrical silhouettes inspired by <a href="http://hughjacobsen.com/newsite.htm" target="_blank">Hugh Newell Jacobsen</a>.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Each two-story home is about 1,900 sq ft with a open floor plan kitchen and dining room next to the living room on the ground floor.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Upstairs are 2 bedrooms and a master suite.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

The efficient use of space, the large ceiling heights and the brilliant white walls make these homes feel huge.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Meanwhile large custom windows provide ample daylighting and the open and flexible spaces allow the residents to customize their home as they see fit.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

The cabinets were designed in house and then built by a local cabinet builder.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

To complete the project and keep costs low, Matthew and Tina Ford of <a href="http://www.shadehousedev.com/" target="_blank">Shade House Development</a> relied on the principle of economies of scale.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

By building 9 homes rather than just a few, they were able to work with wholesalers and builders to get better prices.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Lots of custom windows instead of 1 or 2 meant they could make them for less.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

The interior is modern with clean lines without extra details like unnecessary trim, which also helped reduce labor and material costs.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Drawing of the 9 row houses for Row on 25th.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Construction of the Row on 25th row houses.

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Row on 25th-Shade House Development

Inspired by the traditional American row house, this collection of gleaming white gable roof homes is part of the new wave of sustainable design in Houston. Designed and built by Matthew and Tina Ford through their company Shade House Development, the Row on 25th is currently a series of five houses, but it will soon be expanded to nine. A simple and clean layout, coupled with economies of scale in building lowered the costs of building down to around $170 per square foot. They also included a number of energy-efficient strategies, like daylighting, to lower AC costs in the hot and humid climate of southeast Texas.